Staphylococcal bacteraemia in substance misuse
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying and reducing Staphylococcal bacteraemia in substance misuse
IRAS ID
161428
Contact name
Stephen H. Gillespie
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium found on the skin of healthy individuals. It is capable of invading the body especially if the skin is broken through medical intervention or in the case of individuals self injecting. The bacterium is capable of causing severe disease and death and is a particular risk to those who inject. Despite its importance as a cause of death and ill health in the vulnerable group of people little is known about how these organisms circulate in this community. The purpose of this research is to recruit a group of self injecting individuals and follow them sequentially. We will sample them when they attend pharmacies for needle exchange and early treatment. S. aureus grown from these routine samples and on any occasion when they present with blood poisoning will be saved. By taking the sequence of the DNA of the infection and colonising organisms we will be able to identify whether there are especially dangerous bacteria circulating in this community. We will also be able to decide whether any new infective incident is from the individual's "normal" organism or whether the new infection is caused by replacement by a more dangerous strain. The information gained will help us to plan better services and interventions for these individuals.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0872
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion